Sewing-machine.



L. ONDERDONK.

SEWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1907.

1,1 29,587. Patented Feb 23, 1915; 7

I 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. ONDERDONK.

SEWING MACHINE.

APBLIOATION EILED SEPT. 10, 1907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Alto may L. ONDERDONK.

SEWING MACHINE.

WITNESSES: ,./42 [NVENTOA Aflorzlcy S L. ONDERDONK.

SEWING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1907.

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SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1907.

Patented Feb.23,1915.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

lzag. J.

WITNESSES Alfomeys STATS I LANSING ONDERDONIL OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SEWING-MACHINE.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, LANSING a citizen of the United States, read]? itNew York city, in the county of New State of New York, have inventedcertain.

new and useful Improvements in Sewing- Machines, of which the followingis a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, andto the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in that class ofsewing machines having a walking presser foot or upper feedingmechanism.

The object of my invention is to provide a walking presser foot or upperfeeding mechanism that shall be positive in its movements, durable inconstruction, and ei'licient in operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a walking presser foot ofthe above character with a regulatingmeans which is readily accessibleto the operator.

My invention consists 1n the parts, arrangements and improvementshereinafter shown, described and set forth in the claims.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration one embodiment of myinvention; Figure 1 is a front sectional view of a sewing machineembodying my improvements, the looper mechanism being omitted for thesake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a front end elevation partlyin section, andwith certain parts removed, of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view ofthe head of the machine on the line 33, of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a rear view of a sectional view of ahanging arm. Fig. .7 is a detail view showing means for raising andlowering the upper feeding member. Fig. (3 is a detail view, showing themeans for moving the upper feeding member back and forth. Fig. 7 is adetail View, showing the needle thread controller in plan. Fig. 8 is adetail view in side elevation, of the parts shownin Fig 7. Fig. 9 is adetail view showing the connection of the rock lever 51 to thepresser'ban. Fig. 10 is a detail showing a modification of theconnection between the rock lever 5land the presser bar. Fig. 11 shows amodified form of presser foot and feeding foot.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ONDERDONK, I

Patented Feb. 23,1915.

Application filed September 10, 1907. Serial No. 382,203.-

my machine are operated from the main.

shaft 5, mounted in suitable bearings 6, 7 and 8 in the overhanging arm.A similar shaft 9, is mounted in bearings 10, 11 and 12 in the bed ofthe machine, and is rotated f continuously by a belt 13 running overpulleys 14 and 15, carried by .the shaft 5, and

the shaft 9 respectively.

A needle bar 16 reciprocates in the overhanging arm and carries at itslower end the usual needle 17. [Said needle bar .16 is reciprocated by alink 18, which is pivoted to a suitable collar carried by the needle barat one end, and to a crank 19 mounted on the end of the main shaft 5.Said needle bar carries a thread guide 20 at its upper end. I

A thread controlling arm 21 is secured to an elf set 22, formed on thelink 18. A thread guide 23 is preferably attached to the face plate ofthe machine, and the thread 2% is led from. the supply through a threadeye or a guide 25, at the front end of the machine, then through thethread guides 20, 23 to the controlling arm 21 and then to the needle.

The means for controlling the needle thread forms no part of the presentinvention and will not need further description in this connection.

The complemental stitch forming mechanism cooperating with the needle toform the stitches, forms no part of the present invention, and has beenomitted for the sake of clearness. I

The work supporting post 2, has mounted therein, a feeding mechanism,which derives its entire movements from the shaft 9, mounted in the bedplate and extending into said post at its lower end. Said feedingmechanism comprises a feed dog 26, mounted at the upper end of a feedbar 27. Said feed bar 27 is pivoted at its lower end by a suitablepivotal connection 28, to a yoke 29, which in turn is .pivoted at 30 tothe bed plate of the machine. Said yoke 29, carries an arm 31, betweenwhich and the body of the yoke is located an eccentric 32, secured tothe lower shaft 9. It will be obvious that as said shaft is rotated, theeccentric 32 will cause the yoke 29 to swing about its pivot and'to giveto the feed bar, its raising and falling movements whereby it is broughtinto engagement with the material. Said feed bar 27 receives its backand forward movement from a lever 33, which is connected at its upperend by a link 34, to the feed bar. Said lever at its lower end,encircles an eccentric 35 from which it receives its movement. The lever33 is pivotally connected between its ends to a link 36 which in turn ispivoted to a rock lever 37 secured to a bracket 38 on the worksupporting post, and held normally stationary by a link 39 pivoted to aregulating lever 40. Said regulating lever 40-is pivoted to the worksupporting post, and is secured in its adjusted positions by a thumb nut41.

It will be obvious that as the main shaft rotates, the eccentric 35 willcause the lever 33, to swing about its pivotal support and cause thefeed dog 26 to move back and forth. When it is desired to adjust thethrow of the feed dog, the thumb nut 41 is loosened and the regulatinglever 4.0, is turned about its pivot which swings the rock shaft 37about its pivotal support and thus changes the relative position of thepivotal support for the link 36. The shifting of the pivotal support ofthe link 36, varies the amount of throw given to the feed dog by thelever 33. A presser foot 42, carried by a presser bar 43, operates tohold the material on the work support, while the same is stitched. Saidpresser bar 43 extends through the overhanging arm of the machine and isheld in engagement with the material by a suitable spring44, mountedupon the head of the machine in the usual manner and extending throughan opening in a collar 45 clamped to said presser bar.

A thread eye 25, is formed in the end of the lever 46, which ispivotally connected to a supporting post 47, mounted in the head of themachlne and said lever at its rear end is connected by means of a link48 to the collar 45, secured to the presser bar.

It will be obvious from the above construction, that all the movementsof the presser bar owing to various thicknesses of fabric, willbecommunicated to the lever 46, and the position of the thread eye 25relative to the thread guide 20 varied in accordance with the thicknessof the work.

The supporting post 47 may be adjusted vertically and the position ofthe thread eye 25 relative to the thread guide 20 varied when desired.The walking presser foot or upper feeding device consists of a foot 49preferably having a smooth surface at its lower side and with feed teethat its forward up turned end, which assist said foot in climbing overseams and the like although it is obvious that said foot may be thepresser or feeding foot 49 will be raised and lowered. The 'movement ofthe rock lever 51 is suflicient so that as the feed foot is lowereduponthe material, the rock lever 51 will turn about the pivotalconnection 54 between said rock lever and the presser bar 50 and liftthe presser foot 42 from the material. The rock lever 51 receives itsmovements through a link 55 which is pivoted at 56 to said rock lever 51and at its other end 57, to the arm 58' secured to the forward end of arock shaft 59 (see Fig. 4) mounted in suitable brackets 60, 61projecting from the rear side of the overhanging arm. Said rock shaft 59is provided with a crank 62 at its rear end, to which is pivotallyconnected an eccentric 63 coiiperating with an eccentric 64, on the mainshaft 5. As said shaft 5 is rotated, the eccentric strap 63, willoscillate the rock shaft 59, which will in turn rock the lever 51 andcause first the presser foot 42 and then the feeding foot 49 to beraised from the material. Said feeding foot 49, receives its back andforth movement from a lever 65 (see Figs. 2 and 6), which is fulcrumedupon a link 66 at 67 which link in turn has a pivotal support 68. Thelever 65 at its lower end, is connected to the presser member 50 by alink 69. The lever 65 at its upper end is pivotally connected at 70 toan arm 71. Said arm 71 is carried by a' set 73 whereby the arm extendsback of the of the movements of the shaft 59 and the vibrating movementsof said collar will be imparted to the lever 65 and in turn imparted tothe presser member 50, which will cause the feed foot 49 to move backand forth.

The pivotal connection 68 of the link 66 is carried by an arm 77 fixedto the regulating lever 78. Said regulating lever 78 is provided with anoperating handle 79 which extends underneath the overhanging arm andalong side of the needle head whereby the same is readily accessible tothe operator. The regulating lever 78 is formed integral with the cars80, 81 which carry adjustable screws 82, 83. Said: screws: are so heatedrelative to the overhang'ng arm that as the regulating lever 78 isoscillated, one screw or the other will! be brought into contact withthe head of the machine,

By adjusting the screws 82: and 83 the ex,- treme. positions of movementof the regulating lever may be predetermined. When the regulating leveris in the position. shown in Figs. 3. and 6, the movements of the rocklever Z1 will. cause the 66 to move down wardand backward. as shown. indotted lines in Fig. 6.,and through the-link 69 moves the feed foot. 19.When however, the pivotal support 68 is moved. to theposition. shown indotted lines in Fig. 3, then the movement of the fulcrum 67 carried bythe link 66 will be.- practically in. a vertical line and no move.-

' ment whatever will. be imparted by the levear 65 to the. feed foot 49.

It will be obvious that instead of using a feed. foot of the, form shownin the illustrated embodiment call my invention that I may use anyother. form of. feed or or a feeding finger. By manipulati ng the lever79, the feed foot. 43 may be caused to vibrate or to be thrown out ofvibration.

Theadjustments of the lever '19 may be accomplished while the machine inop eration. By placing the lever 7.9- by-which the feed is adjusted onthe needle head, I

locate said lever in a position whereby it is readily viewed by theoperator at the same time the operator is watching the progress of thestitching. 1

' The throw of the lower feeding mechanism and the throw of theupper-feeding mechanism are independently adj ustablle and therefore, Iam able to. regulate the feeding of my machine so that either the. upperor lower feed may be moved faster than the other or slower than theother and said feeds may also be moved in unisor s 'llhen again by themanipulation of the lever 79., the upper feeding mechanism may be throwninto and out of operation whenever desired without in any way alteringthe movements of the lower feeding device.

' Where the lever 51 is mounted upon a collar such as shown in Fig. 9 ofthe drawing, 1 find that there is considerable torsional strain upon thepresser bar. In orderto avoid this strain, I have provided as shown inFig. 10 a guide rod 84: in addition to the usual guide rod 85, which ismounted in suitable bearings in the overhanging arm, and connected tothe main presser bar 43 by clamping collars 86.

The guide rod 84 has a. collar 85 at its upper end which is disposedopposite the collar 52 'on the prcsser bar and the rock lever 51 ispivotedto a stud connected to said collars. 52, and 85.

Theguide rods 84 and 85. move up and down with the presser bar and thetorsional strain due to. the lifting of the presser bar and the feedfoot 49 is distributed between the guide rod '84: and the presser bar43.

The operation of, my feeding device is as follows: The lower feed bar 36is raised into engagement with the fabric by means of the eccentric 32,and theeccentric 35 operates to give said feed her its movements to feedthe material. I The eccentric 32 is soset on the shaft, relative to theeccentric 35, that the feed dog; is practically raised into engagementwith the material for the purpose of feeding thesame before theeccentric 35 operates through the lever 33 to move said feed dog to givethereto its feeding movements. As the eccentric 32 is rotated, the yoke29 will be oscillated about its center 30. The tendency of the upward oscillation of the yoke 29 about the center 30 is to move the lower end ofthe feed bar 27 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. At the same time,however, that the feed bar 36 is raised by said yoke, the link 34 isturned about its pivotal connection with the lever 33- and the resultantmovement of the feed bar is practically a bodily movement upward andslightly toward the front of the machine, into engagement with thematerial. As soon as the feed dog engages the material, the same ismoved to feed the fabric by the eccentric 35. There are three essentialelements which cooperate in giving to this feed dog its feedingmovements:

First, the eccentric 35 as it rotates with the shaft 3, tends to movethe lower end of the lever 33 when in engagement with the materialto theright, swinging the same about its fulcrum point. This movement of thelever 33 will give to the feed dog a feeding movement.

Second, as the lever 33 is lifted by means of the eccentric, the link 33is swung about its. pivotal connection with the rock lever 37, whichcarries the upper end of the lever 33, to the. lefi, as. viewed in Fig.2, also givllzfi to the feed dog a movement to feed the f ,ric. Third",as the lever 33 is lifted by the eccentric, the link 34 is turned aboutits pivotal'connection with the feed bar, and owing to the fact that thefeed bar is practica y stationary ertically at this time, this movement.of sairf link will also move the feed dog to give still an additionalmovement thereto.

These three active elements in the movement of the feed dog, combine togive to said feed dog a very quick feeding movement, and likewise a veryquick backward .movement when disengaged from the material. I

It will be noted that the eccentric 32 engages the yoke 29 at a greaterdistance from the pivotal point- 8 in lifting the feed dog,

than when lowering the feed dog. For this reason, the feed dog is slowin its first movements into engagement with the fabric, and is alsoquick in leaving the fabric, and, therefore, the needle is given time toreach a point well above the work plate before the feed dog is operatedto feed the material.

The upper feed dog is brought into engagement with the material by theeccentric 64. As this eccentric is rotated, starting with the parts asin Fig. 2, the rock lever .51 is turned about the pivot point 53, andthe feeding foot 49 lowered into engagement with the material to beoperated upon. A further movement of the eccentric 64 then causes therock lever 51 to turn about the pivotal point 54 as a center, and liftthe presser foot 42 clear of the material. These parts are preferably sotimed relative to the lower feed, that the foot 49 is brought intocontact with the material and the presser foot 42 lifted ready for thefeeding operation at the same time the feed dog is lifted by the yoke 29and eccentric 32 into contact with the material, ready for its feedingmovement. However, said upper feeding foot may be timed so as to contactwith the material in advance of the lower feed dog, or at a laterperiod.

There are two essential features which combine to give the feeding foot49 its feeding movement:

First, the eccentric 76 rocks the lever 71, which moves the leverdownward. This downward movement of the lever 65 causes the link 66 toswing about the fulcrum point 68, and vibrate the lower end of saidlever 65 laterally, and through the link 69 move the feed foot.

Second, the arm of the rock shaft supporting the lever 65 moves fromsubstantially a horizontal position downward, thus carrying the upperend of the lever 65 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 6. This movement ofthe arm swings the lever 65 about the fulcrum 67, and gives anadditional movement to the feeding foot 49.

.These two features combineto give a very quick forward movement to thefeeding foot 49, and also a quick return movement when out of engagementwith the material.

By my arrangement of parts, I have provided a feeding mechanism whichmay be operated to clamp the material and move the same quickly toposition said material for the next stitch. Also by my arrangement ofparts, the feeding movements may be given the material after the needleis well above the fabric.

One of the many advantages of delaying the feed operation until theneedle is well above the work plate, is, that I am thereby enabled tostitch very thick material, and to pass over'readily thick seams, as theneedle is well up out of the material before the feeding action takesplace, and is completed 9 before the needle has descended far enough toenter the work.

As above noted, the feeding stroke of the feed foot 49 may be quicklydecreased by turning the regulating lever 7 9 or the movements of thisfoot to feed the material stopped at any time and without stopping themachine. On the other hand, the feeding movements of the feed foot 49may be increased so as to move in advance of the lower feed and thusfull in or gather the upper of a plurality of layers of material, ifdesired. The feeding foot will be varied in form, of course, to bestadapt the same for the character of work desired to be accomplished.

In Fig. 11 I have shown'a modified form of feeding foot and presser footwhich are especially adapted for climbing over seams and abruptincreased thickness of material. The presser foot is formed at itsforward end with a substantially rectangular notch 42 forming aprojecting toe 42. The feeding foot 49 is provided with a similarlyshaped notch 49, forming a projecting toe 49". In a machine of the typeherein disclosed, it is advantageous to lift the presser foot for themovement of the material and the feeding foot for its return stroke alimited distance relative to each other. The greater the distance theseparts are moved relative to each other, the greater the work required ofthe machine, as the presser foot is necessarily held down by a heavyspring.

Furthermore, where these parts are given considerable vertical movementmore or less pounding or jarring occurs in this operation. With myimproved form of notched presser foot and feeding foot, I am enabled togive these parts a very limited movement and still climb over abruptchanges in the thickness of the material, as above noted.

The operation is as follows: When the feeding foot 49 is operating tomove the material, the ,foot 42 is lifted to allow the work to passunderneath the same. It is not necessary to lift the foot 42 so that theseam or increased thickness will pass underneath the bottom of the foot,but only suflicient so that said seam will pass underneath theprojectingtoe into the recess 42'. The foot is now lowered on to the materialuntil the projecting toe engages the seam, and this will determine thelowest position of said foot relative to the work support. The feedingfoot 49 is now lifted the usual distance above the under surface of thefoot 42, and as said foot 42 is held by the seam raised above itsprevious position, the feeding foot will be lifted further from the worksupport than on the previous stroke. Likewise as the foot 49 movesforward to engage the material, if the seam or other abrupt 1ncrease inthickness of material is above the plane of the under surface of saidfeeding foot in its raised position, still the projection 49 will moveover the top of the seam, and be lowered onto the same. The seam holdingthe feeding foot at a greater distance from the work support than on theprevious stroke, will cause the foot 42 to be lifted higher, so that theseam will be carried under the toe 42.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in details of constructionand the arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

Having thus particularly described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A sewing machine including incombination, a bed plate, a work supporting post rising therefrom, anoverhanging arm carried by said bed plate, feeding mechanism mountedinsaid work supporting post, a presser bar mounted in said overhangingarm, carrying a presser foot at its lower end, a feeding mechanismcarried by said overhanging arm, comprising a feed foot, a supportingmember therefor, a rock lever pivoted to said presser bar, and connectedto said supporting member at the upper end thereof, means for vibratingsaid rock lever, a lever pivoted to said overhanging arm, a linkconnecting said lever to said supporting member at a point intermediateits ends, and means for oscillating said lever whereby said feed foot ismoved back and forth.

2. A sewing machine including in combination a bed plate, a worksupporting post rising therefrom, an overhanging arm carried by said bedplate, feeding mechanism mounted in said work supporting post, a presserbar mounted in said overhanging arm and carrying a presser foot at itslower end, a feeding mechanism carried by said overhanging arm,comprising a feed foot, a supporting member therefor, a rock leverpivoted to said presser bar and connected to said supporting member atthe upper end thereof, means for vibrating said rock lever, a leverpivoted to said overhanging arm, a link connecting said lever to saidsupporting member at a point intermediate its ends, and means foroscillating said lever whereby said feed foot is moved back and forth,and means for adjusting the effective throw of said lever.

3. A sewing machine including in combination, a work support, anoverhanging arm, a feeding mechanism carried thereby, comprising a feedfoot, a supporting member therefor, means for raising and lowering saidsupporting member, a lever pivoted to the overhanging arm, a link forconnecting said lever to said supporting mem- .ber and lyingsubstantially parallel to the path of movement of said feeding member,means for vibrating said lever and devices for rendering the movementsof said lever effective or ineffective for vibrating said supportingmember laterally.

4. A sewing machine including in combinationa work support, anoverhanging arm, a feeding mechanism carried by said overhanging arm andcomprising a feed foot, a supporting member therefor, means for raisingand lowering said supporting member, a lever, a link connecting saidlever to said supporting member and lying substantially parallel to thepath of movement of said feeding member, means for vibrating said lever,and a pivoted link on which said lever is fulcrumed.

5. A sewing machine including in combination a work support, anoverhanging arm, a feeding mechanism, carried by said overhanging armand comprising a feed foot, a supporting member therefor, means forraising and lowering said supporting member, a lever, a link connectingsaid lever to said supporting member and lying substan tially parallelto the path of movement of 'said feeding member, means for vibratingsaid lever, a pivoted link on which said lever is fulcrumed, and meansfor adjusting the pivotal support of said last named link.

6. A sewing machine including in combination a work support, anoverhanging arm, a feeding mechanism carried by said overhanging arm andcomprising a feed foot, a supporting member therefor, means for raisingand lowering said supporting member, a lever, a link connecting saidlever to said supporting member, means for vibrating said lever and apivot link on which said lever is fulcrumed, means for adjusting the.pivotal support of said last named link, and devices for determining theposition to which said pivotal support is to be adjusted.

7. A sewing machine including in combination a feeding member, a feedfoot carried thereby, a presser bar, a presser foot carried thereby, arock lever, an auxiliary bar connected to said presser bar andreciprocating therewith, said rock lever being pivoted between saidpresser bar and said auxiliary bar and having one of its arms connectedto the feed member and means connected to the other arm of said rocklever for vibrating the same.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

LANSING ONDER-DONK.

Witnesses WALTER HARTLEY, FRANKLIN H. CHILTON.

